The Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD), a quasi-government institution under the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services together with the American based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are impressed with the impact of various assistive devices on persons with disabilities across the country.
This follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in October 2023, which culminated in the church donating over 450 assorted assistive devices valued at K2.5million, meant to support the Government’s efforts in improving accessibility and mobility for persons with disabilities.
The team from the Church is currently in Zambia to gather feedback from beneficiaries in selected parts of the country, interact with the assessors and technicians and evaluate the progress of the initiative following the completion of the distribution exercise in December.
The visit, led by the Wheelchair Specialists Jon & Marcia Dow, aims at assessing the feasibility of transitioning to a second phase, which would include the donation of additional wheelchairs and training.
Following the arrival of the assistive devices in Zambia, the Church, in collaboration with UNICEF and ZAPD, conducted specialized training for occupational therapists to ensure the devices are customized to meet individual needs.
A total of 24 physiotherapists and technicians from Western, Southern, Luapula, Eastern, and Muchinga provinces received training from facilitators from the Church based in the United States in mid-2024.
